Lyrics: Henry Baker, 1868. Mr. Baker was the editor of the standard Anglican hymnal in Victorian England, called Hymns Ancient and Modern, first published in 1860. Although he was primarily a collector of hymns, Baker also wrote his own lyrics, translated lyrics, and composed tunes. The various editions of Hymns Ancient and Modern sold more than 60 million copies.
Music: ST COLUMBA, Ancient Irish Melody.
Or DOMINUS REGIT ME by John Bacchus Dykes.
Theme: Suppose one of you has a hundred sheep and loses one of them. Does he not leave the ninety-nine in the open country and go after the lost sheep until he finds it? Luke 15:4
Barbara at Stray Thoughts: “I think the third stanza is my favorite, though all of it is good.”
The King of love my shepherd is,
whose goodness faileth never;
I nothing lack if I am his,
and he is mine for ever.
Where streams of living water flow,
my ransomed soul he leadeth,
and where the verdant pastures grow,
with food celestial feedeth.
Perverse and foolish oft I strayed,
but yet in love He sought me,
and on his shoulder gently laid,
and home, rejoicing, brought me.
In death’s dark vale I fear no ill
with thee, dear Lord, beside me;
thy rod and staff my comfort still,
thy cross before to guide me.
Thou spread’st a table in my sight;
thy unction grace bestoweth;
and O what transport of delight
from thy pure chalice floweth!
And so through all the length of days
thy goodness faileth never:
Good Shepherd, may I sing thy praise
within thy house for ever.
While researching this hymn, I found this website which looks like a nice resource. It has a downloadable version of the Dykes tune for this hymn in addition to other hymns available for free download or for purchase on CD.
I’m not familiar with this particular hymn, based on Pslam 23, but here is the Westminster Abbey Choir singing at Princess Diana’s funeral, The King of Love My Shepherd Is to the tune Dominus Regit Me. Descant on the last verse:
Can’t go wrong with the 23rd Psalm.
Thanks for this reminder. I needed it today.
I’m not at all familiar with this tune — one of the horrific things (to me!) about arriving on UK shores is the weird turns the hymns take — very few things are familiar. However, the words are lovely.
Lovely!
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Greetings from Wordwise Hymns. Glad to see this beautiful hymn posted. I posted an article on it myself, this morning. And there’s a touching incident in the hymn writer’s life which relates to the stanza who say is your favourite. Incidentally, if you are looking to link to a good resource for hymns, you might consider mine. I also provide links to the original 1996 Cyber Hymnal, which now has over 9,000 hymns posted! God bless.